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Native Son By Richard Wright - Online Papers

Native Son By Richard Wright


Character Actions Defines Their Individual Personalities and Belief Systems
Richard Wright's novel, Native Son, consisted of various main and supporting characters to deliver an effective array of personalities and expression. Each character's action defines their individual personalities and belief systems. The main character of Native Son, Bigger Thomas has personality traits spanning various aspects of human nature including actions motivated by fear, quick temper, and a high degree of intelligence.
Bigger, whom the novel revolves around, portrays various personality elements through his actions. Many of his actions suggest an overriding response to fear, which stems from his exposure ...

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from being caught in the act of doing something socially unacceptable and being the subject of punishment. Although he later admits to Max that Mary Dalton's behavior toward him made him hate her, it is not hate which causes him to smother her to death, but a feeble attempt to evade the detection of her mother. The fear of being caught with a white woman overwhelmed his common sense and dictated his actions. When he attempted to murder Bessie, his motivation came from intense fear of the consequences of
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"letting" her live. Bigger realized that he could not take Bessie with him or leave her behind and concluded that killing her could provide her only "merciful" end.
The emotional forces that drive Bigger are conveyed by means other than his words. Besides reactions to fear, his actions demonstrate an extremely quick temper and destructive impulse as an integral part of his nature. Rage plays a key part in his basic nature, but does not directly motivate the murders he ...

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by condemning him to death for his crimes.
One of the two most sympathetic characterizations of white persons in the novel comes
from the character of Jan Erlone, Mary Dalton's friend. He exhibits an enthusiastic personality

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and represents an idealistic young organizer for the Communist party. Mary's parents and their servant Peggy distrust his motives. Bigger initially expresses a distaste for "reds" when responding to Jan's friendly advances during their first meeting. While receiving distrust from those around him, Jan retains a simple belief in the equality for all men, regardless of social class or race. Throughout Jan's first meeting with Bigger, he regards Bigger with the ...

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Native Son By Richard Wright. (2004, November 19). Retrieved March 29, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Native-Son-By-Richard-Wright/17721
"Native Son By Richard Wright." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 19 Nov. 2004. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Native-Son-By-Richard-Wright/17721>
"Native Son By Richard Wright." Essayworld.com. November 19, 2004. Accessed March 29, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Native-Son-By-Richard-Wright/17721.
"Native Son By Richard Wright." Essayworld.com. November 19, 2004. Accessed March 29, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Native-Son-By-Richard-Wright/17721.
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PAPER DETAILS
Added: 11/19/2004 08:59:08 AM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1473
Pages: 6

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